This year, as the U.S. winds down its involvement in Afghanistan, we should not lose sight of the fact that early in this war, when it mattered most, Sen. Mitch McConnell voted against our men and women in uniform.

Since 2003, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have been responsible for more than 3,200 combat deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to iCasulties.org, and 13 Kentucky soldiers have been killed by IED attacks since 2007, including two from Fort Campbell. Those deaths are two too many.

Back in April 2005, McConnell voted against an amendment to a war-funding bill that added an additional $213 million for Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, better known as Humvees. And if that was not bad enough, McConnell voted against over $360 million for armored Tactical Wheeled Vehicles for use in Afghanistan and Iraq in October 2005 when the Senate considered the fiscal 2006 Defense Appropriations bill.

Despite never having worn the uniform himself, Sen. McConnell chose to turn his back on our brave soldiers. McConnell’s votes help explain why he has received poor ratings from prominent veterans groups. In 2005, the Disabled American Veterans gave Mitch a 33 percent score and a 0 percent in 2010. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America only rated McConnell a D in 2009-2010 and the Military Officers Association of America gave him a 0 percent in 2009.

In November, I will be voting to replace Sen. McConnell so he won’t have another six years in which to make bad votes that hurt our troops, and I urge others to do the same at the ballot box.